Dispensing device



Jan. 8, 1935. F. E. LENZ 1,987,068

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1933 BY .5@ 0L ATTORNIZ Y a Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DISPENSING DEVICE,

Franklyn Edward Lenz, Hayward, Calif. Application August 29, 1933, Serial .No. 687,296 3 Claims.- (01. 206-41) This invention relates to dispensing devices and has to do more particularly with a device for dispensing tobacco from packagesand more especially cloth sacks having a drawstring op- 5 erated discharge orifice.

As is well known, cigarette tobacco .of the granulated variety is vended in small cloth sacks having an opening atone end provided with a drawstring; and obviously it is quite inconvenient to open and close such a sack while holding it in one hand and a cigarette paper in the other.

The present invention has for its object to provide an inexpensive detachable dispensing device which can easily be attached to a newly opened package of tobacco and by virtue of which, the tobacco can conveniently be dispensed with one hand and the package thereafter closed with equal facility.

A tobacco dispensing device according to the preferred embodiment of this invention is described in detail hereafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figures 1, 2, and 3 and elevational, side and plan views respectively.

The device is made principally of sheet metal and comprises a spout member 1 having a rectangular discharge orifice; a pair of flexible arms 2 and 2' which are attached to and extend from the spout member; a cover 3 'pivotally connected to the spout member by means of a pin 4; and a retractile coil spring 5 which serves normally to hold the cover in its closed position wherein it functions to close the discharge orifice. The cover 3 is provided with a projection 3' which functions as a lever to facilitate lifting the cover-being operable by finger pressure.

The flexible arms 2 and 2' are preferably made of spring tempered sheet steel or at least of some material having adequate springiness. These arms are adapted to be compressed and inserted into a newly opened tobacco sack as illustrated in Figure 1 and they are preferably curved laterally as indicated in Figure 3.

When the device is fully inserted in a tobacco sack, as in Figure 1, discharge spout is in a position to be enveloped by the neck of the sack upon the drawstrings being pulled and their ends tied together. With the device thus attached a tight joint is formed about the discharge spout.

The arms 2 and 2 should preferably be spread apart to such an extent that they will exert some pressure against the inside of the sack, thus holding it fully expanded after the contents have been partially discharged. The free ends of the arms should be rounded as indicated in Figure 2.

It isdesirable, though not essential, that the discharge spout be provided with a lip 1' as shown in Figures 1 and 3. This serves to direct the discharge into a more narrow stream than it might otherwise form.

It is scarcely necessary to remark that with the device of this invention attached to a sack the tobacco can easily be dispensed with one hand and that there is no difficulty or inconvenience involved in closing the sack afterward while holding a cigarette paper and its charge of tobacco in one hand and the sack in the other; and what is more the delay and inconvenience heretofore incident to the opening of the sack each time tobacco was to be dispensed has been completely obviated.

Although the particular device illustrated and described is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is manifest that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept and the invention should, therefore, not be construed as limited except as indicated by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing device comprising a discharge spout provided with attenuated integral spreader arms of resilient material, said arms being curved outwardly and downwardly with respect to the spout and free at their lower ends, said spout and said arms being so constructed and arranged as to be enclosed in a filled bag with the discharge spout located in the mouth of the bag and the free ends of the arms adjacent the bottom thereof, and a closure for said spout.

2. A dispensing device comprising a disch r e spout provided with attenuated integral spreader arms of resilient material, said arms being curved outwardly and downwardly with respect to the spout and free at their lower ends, said spout and said arms being so constructedand arranged as to be enclosed in a filled bag with the discharge spout located in the mouth of the bag and the free ends of the arms adjacent the bottom thereof, a cover pivoted to said spout and provided with a finger piece, and a spring normally holding the cover in closed position.

3. A dispensing device comprising a discharge spout provided with attenuated integral spreader arms of resilient material, said arms being curved outwardly and downwardly with respect to the spout and free at their lower ends, said spout and said arms being so constructed and arranged as to be enclosed in a filled bag with the discharge spout located in the mouth of the bag and the free ends of, the arms adjacent the bottom thereof, said arms being of curved cross section so as to conform to the curvature of the bag, and a spring pressed closure member movably mounted on said neck.

FRANKLYN EDWARD LENZ. 

